With reference to the Indian Freedom Struggle, which one of the following events occurred earliest ?

The Indian Freedom Struggle is marked by several pivotal events with distinct timelines. The Surat Split occurred earliest in 1907 during the Surat session of the Indian National Congress, where the party divided into Moderates and Extremists [t2][t3][t6]. Following this, the Lucknow Pact was signed in 1916, representing an agreement between the Congress and the Muslim League to present joint constitutional demands [c3][c5][t2]. The Rowlatt Satyagraha was launched by Mahatma Gandhi in early 1919 as a protest against the repressive Rowlatt Act [c3][t3][t4]. Finally, the Communal Award was announced much later, in August 1932, by British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald, introducing separate electorates for various minority groups and depressed classes [c1][t2][t7]. Therefore, the Surat Split (1907) is the earliest event among the given options.

Sources

1. [1] https://www.msuniv.ac.in/images/distance%20education/learning%20materials/ug%20pg%202023/ug%202021/BA%20history%202021/DNHY31%20-%20III%20Semester%20-%20Freedom%20Movement%20in%20India.pdf
2. [2] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > Appendices ✫ 821 > p. 821
3. [3] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 14: First World War and Nationalist Response > The Nature of the Pact > p. 301
4. [4] Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 1: Historical Background > The features of this Act were as follows: > p. 7
5. [5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communal_Award